EDA grant to pay for rail infrastructure project in Georgia

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) will award a $1.9 million grant to Macon-Bibb County and Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority of Macon, Georgia, to make infrastructure improvements, including new rail at the Sofkee Industrial Park.

The EDA grant aims to support projects that support manufacturing. In this case, the grant will help pay for infrastructure to support a tissue manufacturing company in the industrial park.

The project, which calls for making road improvements and constructing new rail lines leading into the park, was made possible by regional planning efforts of the Middle Georgia Regional Commission, government officials said in an EDA press release.

"These infrastructure improvements will generate $400 million in private investment, create hundreds of new jobs, and support American manufacturing," said U.S. Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.).